Sortation system, components and methods

• US 6,860,376 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intelligrated Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligrated Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Heit, Martin Albert, Zimmer, Justin, Tefend, Matthew John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/409,749
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 198/370.01, 198/370.02, 198/370.03, 198/370.07
• US Class Current: 198/370.02
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/362 Separating or distributor mechanisms switches for postal sorting B07C3/065; particular discharging devices for B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/36 Pushing shoes on conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/844 the article-engaging elements being pushers transversally movable on the supporting surface, e.g. pusher-shoes

Abstract

A sortation conveyer has overlapping pusher shoes stealth profile upper surface and a “cow catcher” edge which reduces interference with mislocated packages. In a tube type sortation conveyer of one aspect of the present invention, the center of the tubes are vertically offset upwards from the center of the chain pins which allows a single pusher cap design to be used with a round tube type and a slat type sortation conveyor. In another aspect of the invention, the pusher cap has a single, common mounting surface which accepts pusher pads of different divert angles.

Claims

1. A sortation conveyor pusher cap for use with a sortation conveyor which conveys items on a generally planar conveying surface defined by upper surfaces of a plurality of transversely disposed, longitudinally moving, spaced apart members, said members having respective gaps therebetween, said pusher cap including an upper surface, said pusher cap comprising:

a) first and second lateral sides;

b) a first longitudinal side, said first longitudinal side comprising a divert surface configured to move items carried on said conveying surface laterally when said pusher cap is moved laterally; and

c) a second longitudinal side disposed opposite said first longitudinal side, said second longitudinal side comprising a lower edge extending along said second longitudinal side between said first and second lateral sides, substantially all portions of said lower edge either extending below said conveying surface or overlaying one or more of said members at locations where adjacent portions of said upper surface are disposed at a higher level relative thereto such that said portion of said lower edge is recessed below said upper surface.